In the Maasai Mara, from July to October, more than 1.5 million wildebeest and zebras undertake a mass movement from place to place, from pasture to pasture, effectively grazing thousands of square kilometres of grasslands. The Great Migration takes place all year round. Over the course of a year, the animals complete a circuit across the territories of two reserves — the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti inTanzania. Of course, there are no borders for the animals: this is one unified ecosystem spanning more than 10 thousand square kilometres. The animals are constantly on the move, but they follow a certain cycle, arriving at the Maasai MaraNational Park in July.
Hundreds of thousands of animals gathered in a single field is a spectacle in itself — but the most dramatic part of the migration period is the “crossing”, i.e. the river crossing at the Mara River. A vast herd forces its way across the river, which is home to crocodiles. Often, animals break their legs or are trampled to death by their own herd‑mates.
Typically, the herd first approaches the river and stands on the bank for a very longtime, peering into the water. The animals are most concerned about the crocodiles. If everything is quiet, the first, boldest (or most reckless) antelope enters the water and begins to move slowly across. The crowd behind starts to push. Even if there is no crocodile nearby, the herd itself can suddenly spark a panic — someone might scare other animal, or someone might fall. Often, leopards and lions come to the riverbank. In short, threats come from all sides — and wildebeest are incredibly skittish animals. This is how the stampede begins. Thousands of heads rush towards the water through a small ravine, and then — whatever fate has in store…
